"Our members have today given another magnificent display of their determination to win a just settlement of this dispute," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"National Express made nearly £60 million in rail operating profits last year and increased its shareholders' dividend by 18 percent.

"They are introducing new technology to help increase those profits even further, and our members, who actually go out there and run the railway, quite rightly expect some of the benefit to be passed on to them.

"If the company can find massive increases for its shareholders, they should be able to negotiate a settlement for its workforce, yet they seem to expect our members to subsidise the introduction of these machines.

"Other National Express companies have already negotiated payments for introducing these machines, and there is no reason why One shouldn't be able to do so as well and avoid further industrial action," Bob Crow said.

Notes to editors:270 RMT conductors, ticket examiners and revenue protection inspectors are taking action today, the second day of strike action in the dispute. They voted by a margin of nearly four to one for action.

The company has also been informed that there will also be 24-hour stoppages on Monday June 27 and Friday July 15.

RMT has also asked One for an urgent meeting to discuss the introduction of new Tribute equipment in booking offices, and informed the company that if a meeting is not arranged by the end of this week, the union will ballot its booking office members for action.